Vacuum cleaner handle attaching means



Nov. 21, 1933. F. RIEBEL, JR., El AL 1,936,366

VACUUM CLEANER HANDLE ATTACHING MEANS Filed July 8, 1931 INVENTOR-S fimazwz/e @858 A77 w By EeweI WLFOW A TTORNEYS.

Patented Nov. 21, 1933 VACUUM enema HANDLE MEANS ATTACHING Frederick Riebel, In, and Dewey M. Dow, Toledo, Ohio, assignors to Air-Way Electric Appliance Corporation, Toledo, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application July 8, 1931. Serial No. 549,492

6 Claims. (Cl. 15-16) The present invention relates generally to a means for removably attaching handles to vacuum cleaners, and more specifically to a means especially adapted for the attachment of tubular fibre handles. It has been found in practice that light weight hollow tubular vacuum cleaner handles are susceptible of becoming warped or checked during usage, with the result that they fit loosely in their receptive sockets. It is an object of the present invention to provide an attachment means which shall obviate the disadvantages incident to such warpage of the fibre material.

It is a further object to provide a construction for a removable air-tight vacuum cleaner handle attachment which shall facilitate the removal of such handle for shipping, storing, packing, etc. The latter object is of particular advantage in that special tools are required for the proper insertion of the fibre tube in its receptive socket.

It is found most convenient when tubular handle replacements become necessary to make such replacement at the factory where proper facilities are available. Hence, by means of the utilization of our herein described device it is necessary only to ship the handle and the removable attaching means to the factory forreplacement, rather than the entire machine itself. Objects and advantages additional to those enumerated shall become manifest in the course of the following description. To the accomplishment of embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing:-

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing the construction of the device embodying the principle of our invention, in conjunction with the fan casing of a well-known type of vacuum cleaner; Fig. 2 is sectional view taken substantially upon line 2--2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an assembly view of the entire tubular handle and attaching device when removed from the vacuum cleaner fan casing; and Fig. 4 is a sectional detail.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates generally the hollow fibre handle which is also adapted to serve as an air conduit, and to be attached to the air inlet tight fit in the ferrule.

manifold 2 of the fan or air impeller casing 4 of the vacuum cleaner. The numeral 3 indicates a fan casing outlet to which a suitable air filtering and dust collecting means (not shown) is intended to be attached. A rotary valve and dust indicating means 5 functions to control the quantity of air induced through the hollow tube 1.

The novel subject-matter of the present invention resides in the provision of the cylindrical metallic ferrule 6 having the annular shoulder 7 and projecting portion 8 which are adapted to effect an air-tight but removable fit in the fan casing inlet socket 2. In order to produce a permanent jointure of the fibre tube with the metallic ferrule 6 and to insure against checking or warpage of such tube, the metallic sleeve 9 is forcibly inserted interiorly of the tube 1.

As a result of the forcible insertion of the sleeve 9, any irregularities in either diameter or true cylindrical shape of the fibre tube, will be corrected, and the external diameter and shape of the tube will be correspondingly made to conform properly tothe interior of the ferrule 6, so that the fibre tube may be forced into the ferrule.

The tube 9 serves to prevent shrinkage of the 8 fibre tube, and thus prevents the tube from loosening in the ferrule, i. e., insures a permanently At the same time, the ferrule prevents the tube from expanding and thereby prevents the sleeve 9 from becoming misplaced.

As fibre material is very subject to expansion, shrinking, and warping in response to changes in temperature and humiditiy, it will be understood that this is a very important feature of the invention.

For the purpose of more securely retaining the metallic ferrule 6 in the socket 2, the split collar 10 and tightening screw 11 may be provided upon the wall of the socket 2. A set screw 12 may 5 also be positioned in the wall of the socket 2 and adapted to threadably engage with the wall portion 8.

The downwardly projecting lugs 13 and 14 are also cast integrally with the cylindrical member 6. These last-named projecling lugs serve the double function in that the recesses 15 and 16 may be drilled therein for the purpose of serving as filter bag rod support means; and, further, the bottom surfaces of the lubs 13 and 14 are adapted to register with the fiat shoulder 20 on the fan casing outlet 3. It will thus be seen that the purpose of such registration of the lugs 13 and 14 with the shoulder 20 prevents rotation of the handle 1 relative to its complementary socket 2, aswell as insuring against misplacement of the handle upon installation.

Fig. 3 illustrates a specific type of vacuum cleaner handle having the electric switch 21 and curved upper handle portion 22, as it appears as a unitary element removed from the vacuum cleaner assembly.

Other modes of applying the principle of our invention may be employed instead 0! the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

We therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as our invention:

1.- In combination, a suction cleaner tan casing including a handle socket and anoutlet projecting axially beyond the end oi said socket, a handie, and means for securing said handle in said socket, including a cylindrical metallic member permanently mounted on the end of said handle, and provided with an axially projecting portion receivable in said socket, and a laterally projecting element engaging with the projecting portion of said outlet to limit rotational movement of the handle.

7 2. In combination, a suction cleaner Ian casing including a handle socket and an outlet projecting axially beyond the end of said socket, a handle telescoped in said socket, and laterally projecting means on said handle. engaging with the projecting portion of said outlet to limit rotational movement of the handle.

3. In combination, a suction cleaner tan casing 1,oss,see

including a handle socket and an outlet projecting axially beyond the end of said socket, a handle telescoped in said socket, a flat shoulder formed on the projecting portion of the outlet, and laterally projecting means on the handle engaging with said shoulder to limit rotational movement oi the handle.

4. In combination, a suction cleaner Ian casing including a handle socket and an outlet projecting axially beyond the end of said socket, a handle telescoped in said socket, and, circumferentlally spaced, laterally projecting lugs on said handle, engaging the projecting portion oi'said outlet to limit rotational movement or the handle.

5. In combination, asuction cleaner fan casing including a handle socket and an outlet projecting axially beyond the end of said socket, a handle, and means for securing said handle in said socket, including a cylindrical metallic member permanently mounted on the end or said handle, and provided with an axially projecting portion receivable in said socket, and a non-cylindrical portion engaging the projecting portion of said outlet to limit rotational movement or the handle.

6. In combination, a suction cleaner tan casing including a handle socket and an outlet projecting axially beyond the end or said socket, a handle telescoped in said socket, and non-cylindrical means on said handle, engaging with the projecting portion 0! said outlet to limit rotational movement of the handle.

FREDERICK RIEBEL, JR. DEWEY M. DOW. 

